Reference guide
Rolex Serial & Reference Numbers: Lookup and Guide
Look up your Rolex serial number
Enter the serial exactly as engraved on the watch. Supported older serial formats can suggest an approximate production period, not an exact date.
These are approximate collector/dealer estimates, not an official Rolex dating service. Random serials introduced around 2010 cannot reliably identify a production year. The lookup runs in your browser; this tool does not submit your serial number.
Where to find your serial and reference number
Serial number
On older Oyster watches, look between the lugs at 6 o'clock; on many later examples, look at 6 o'clock on the rehaut, the inner ring below the crystal. The change took place over a transition period in the mid-to-late 2000s, and some watches have both locations.
The location alone is not an exact production-date test. If reading the engraving requires bracelet removal, ask a qualified watchmaker to help.
Reference number
On many Oyster models, the case reference is between the lugs at 12 o'clock. Check the watch's papers first, and ask a qualified watchmaker to remove a bracelet if needed; avoid scratching the case.
Four-, five- and six-digit references occur in different families and eras. Length alone does not date a watch: the modern Rolex 1908, for example, uses five-digit reference 52508.
The rehaut
The rehaut is the inner ring between the dial and crystal. Many later Rolex watches have repeated ROLEX lettering and a serial at 6 o'clock. Engraving quality and location are inspection clues, not proof of authenticity or an exact year; compare the complete watch with its documented model.
Rolex reference numbers explained
A reference number identifies a watch model or configuration, not an individual watch. A serial number identifies the individual watch. A reference can narrow down the family, material and bezel, but it does not establish authenticity, condition, ownership or today's value.
Start with the complete reference. Leading digits such as 126 are shared across different families, so they are not a model name on their own. Compare the full number with a model-specific catalog entry, then check any trailing letters and the actual dial, bracelet and papers.
There is no safe universal bezel-digit shortcut. For example, Daytona 126506 has a tachymetric bezel even though its next-to-last digit is 0. The examples below describe complete references rather than pretending that every digit has the same meaning on every Rolex.
Reference examples by Rolex model
Use this starter table to identify a family, then follow its model library. It is not a complete production list or a promise that a watch is in stock.
| Model library | Example reference | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Submariner Date | 126610LV | Oystersteel, green bezel. The letters matter when distinguishing bezel versions. |
| GMT-Master II | 126711CHNR | Oystersteel and Everose gold with a brown/black bezel. |
| Datejust 41 | 126334 | Oystersteel and white gold, fluted bezel. Inspect the particular dial and bracelet configuration separately. |
| Cosmograph Daytona | 126506 | Platinum, tachymetric bezel and transparent case back. |
| Yacht-Master 42 | 226627 | RLX titanium. A final 7 must not automatically be interpreted as vintage gold. |
| Perpetual 1908 | 52508 | 18 kt yellow gold. This modern five-digit reference shows why digit count is not a dating test. |
Material clues in the final digit
These recurring patterns are useful starting points, not an official universal decoding formula. Confirm the complete reference and generation; a material code does not describe every component or authenticate a watch.
| Final digit | Common material association | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | Steel / Oystersteel | 126610LV |
| 1 | Steel and Everose gold | 126711CHNR |
| 2 | Steel and platinum (Rolesium) | 126622 |
| 3 | Steel and yellow gold | 126333 |
| 4 | Steel and white gold (white Rolesor); the Datejust's bezel is white gold, not its entire bracelet | 126334 |
| 5 | Everose / pink gold on relevant modern references | 126505 |
| 6 | Platinum | 126506; the earlier 116506 also follows this pattern |
| 7 | RLX titanium on the examples shown; do not apply a vintage material chart to them | 226627 |
| 8 | 18 kt yellow gold | 52508 |
| 9 | 18 kt white gold | 126619LB |
Rolex letter codes: LN, LV, BLNR, BLRO and more
These letters distinguish features on the specific references where Rolex uses them. Most examples here describe bezel colors; GV describes a green sapphire crystal instead. Collector nicknames are not official reference numbers.
| Code | Feature | Documented example |
|---|---|---|
| LN | Black bezel | GMT-Master II 116718LN |
| LV | Green bezel | Submariner Date 126610LV |
| LB | Blue bezel | Submariner Date 126619LB |
| BLNR | Blue and black bezel | GMT-Master II 116710BLNR |
| BLRO | Red and blue bezel | GMT-Master II 116719BLRO |
| CHNR | Brown and black bezel | GMT-Master II 126715CHNR |
| GRNR | Grey and black bezel | GMT-Master II 126710GRNR |
| VTNR | Green and black bezel | GMT-Master II 126720VTNR |
| GV | Green sapphire crystal | Milgauss 116400GV |
For gem-set references, verify the exact factory configuration with model-specific documentation. A suffix alone cannot establish that diamonds, sapphires or a dial were fitted by Rolex rather than added later.
Do not confuse these suffixes with dealer inventory codes. Our SDJB dial and bracelet code guide explains the difference, including why a dealer's BLRO dial shorthand can mean something different from the factory's BLRO bezel designation.
What a reference number cannot tell you
A matching reference is only one part of an inspection. Replacement or aftermarket dials, bezels, bracelets and movements need separate checking. A convincing engraving or matching papers alone cannot prove a watch is genuine.
Do not reject a watch solely because it has an elastomer bracelet or transparent case back. Rolex makes Oysterflex bracelets with metal blades covered in elastomer, and models including the 1908 and certain Daytonas have transparent backs. Always compare the exact model.
For an appraisal, have the reference, clear photos, condition and service information, and any box and papers available. Keep the full serial private when sharing public photos. You do not need to identify the model perfectly before asking us for help.
Sources and scope
The reference examples use Rolex's own model pages and brochures. The serial-year and clasp charts elsewhere on this page are approximate collector/dealer data, not official Rolex records. This is an independent SDJB guide; we are not affiliated with or endorsed by Rolex.
- Rolex GMT-Master II brochure: reference and bezel examples
- Rolex Submariner Date 126610LV and 126619LB brochure
- Rolex GMT-Master II 126711CHNR and Datejust 41 126334
- Rolex Daytona 126506, Yacht-Master 42 226627 and 1908 52508
- Rolex Milgauss 116400GV brochure
- Rolex Yacht-Master 126622, Datejust 126333 and Daytona 126505
- Rolex Oysterflex construction
Reference section checked against the sources above on September 16, 2026.
Rolex serial number to year chart
The following collector/dealer chart gives approximate starting serials, not official Rolex production records. Sources differ, ranges overlap, and production, shipment and sale dates are different events. A precise year or one-year margin cannot be guaranteed. Early numeric ranges are especially ambiguous because numbers were reused; randomized serials cannot be dated from this chart.
| Year | Approx. starting serial | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1926 | ~20,900 | Records effectively begin here; pre-1950 figures are approximate and differ noticeably between references. |
| 1927 | ~21,700 | |
| 1928 | ~24,700 | |
| 1929 | ~26,000 | Interpolated; sources disagree and are non-monotonic in this era. |
| 1930 | ~28,300 | |
| 1931 | ~28,800 | Interpolated approximate. |
| 1932 | ~29,300 | |
| 1933 | ~30,000 | |
| 1934 | ~30,800 | |
| 1935 | ~35,400 | |
| 1936 | ~37,600 | |
| 1937 | ~40,900 | |
| 1938 | ~43,700 | |
| 1939 | ~71,200 | |
| 1940 | ~99,800 | |
| 1941 | ~106,000 | |
| 1942 | ~143,500 | |
| 1943 | ~230,900 | |
| 1944 | ~269,600 | |
| 1945 | ~302,500 | |
| 1946 | ~387,200 | |
| 1947 | ~529,200 | |
| 1948 | ~628,800 | |
| 1949 | ~660,000 | Interpolated approximate (source gap). |
| 1950 | ~685,000 | Interpolated approximate (source gap). |
| 1951 | ~710,800 | |
| 1952 | ~840,400 | |
| 1953 | ~929,400 | |
| 1954 | ~999,999 | Serials approached 1,000,000 this year, then Rolex RESET the counter. Some dealer charts instead show ~23,000 here because they place the reset differently. |
| 1955 | ~100,001 | Counter reset back near 100,000 after crossing 1,000,000; climbs toward 1M again over the next decade. |
| 1956 | ~139,400 | |
| 1957 | ~321,900 | |
| 1958 | ~360,200 | |
| 1959 | ~399,000 | |
| 1960 | ~511,700 | |
| 1961 | ~646,900 | |
| 1962 | ~763,700 | |
| 1963 | ~950,000 | |
| 1964 | ~985,000 | |
| 1965 | ~1,150,000 | Crosses 1,000,000 again and continues into seven digits from here on. |
| 1966 | ~1,289,700 | |
| 1967 | ~1,554,000 | |
| 1968 | ~1,752,000 | |
| 1969 | ~2,060,000 | |
| 1970 | ~2,504,200 | |
| 1971 | ~3,215,500 | |
| 1972 | ~3,478,400 | |
| 1973 | ~3,741,300 | |
| 1974 | ~4,004,200 | |
| 1975 | ~4,267,100 | |
| 1976 | ~4,538,000 | |
| 1977 | ~5,008,000 | |
| 1978 | ~5,482,000 | |
| 1979 | ~5,952,800 | |
| 1980 | ~6,434,000 | |
| 1981 | ~6,594,000 | |
| 1982 | ~7,129,400 | |
| 1983 | ~7,862,000 | |
| 1984 | ~8,338,000 | |
| 1985 | ~8,614,000 | |
| 1986 | ~9,290,000 | |
| 1987 | ~9,760,000 / R | Last full year of purely sequential numbers (into the ~9.7M-9.9M range), then the LETTER-PREFIX era begins mid/late 1987 with the 'R' prefix. |
| 1988 | R | |
| 1989 | L | |
| 1990 | L / E | L runs into early 1990; the 'E' prefix begins around 1990. |
| 1991 | E / X / N | Three prefixes span this year: E early, then X, then N in late 1991. (R-L-E-X spells 'ROLEX' minus the O.) |
| 1992 | N / C | C prefix approx 1991/1992. |
| 1993 | S | S runs approx 1993-1994. |
| 1994 | S / W | |
| 1995 | W / T | |
| 1996 | T | |
| 1997 | U | U runs approx 1997-1998. |
| 1998 | U / A | |
| 1999 | A | |
| 2000 | A / P | A into 2000; 'P' prefix begins around 2000. |
| 2001 | P / K | |
| 2002 | K / Y | |
| 2003 | Y / F | 'F' begins ~2003 and is long-running (~2003-2005). |
| 2004 | F | |
| 2005 | F / D | Around 2005 Rolex also began engraving the serial on the inner rehaut (flange) at 6 o'clock. |
| 2006 | D / Z | |
| 2007 | Z / M | |
| 2008 | M / V | |
| 2009 | V | V runs approx 2008-2010. |
| 2010 | V / G / random | 'G' is the LAST prefix that reliably encodes a year. During 2010 Rolex rolled out fully RANDOM serials; by 2011 essentially all watches carry random, non-datable serials. |
Bracelet clasp date codes
Until 2010 Rolex stamped a production date code on the inside of many bracelet clasps, so the clasp is a second, independent dating clue. From 1976 to 2010 the code is a letter for the year, usually followed by a number for the month (for example "MA5" reads as May 2005; a clasp coded "L" is 1987). Before 1976 it was a quarter or month plus a two-digit year (for example "IV.68" = fourth quarter 1968). From 2011 the codes became random and no longer encode a date. A leading "S" indicates a service-replacement clasp.
| A | 1976 | L | 1987 | X | 1999 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B | 1977 | M | 1988 | AB | 2000 |
| C | 1978 | N | 1989 | DE | 2001 |
| D | 1979 | O | 1990 | DT | 2002 |
| E | 1980 | P | 1991 | AD | 2003 |
| F | 1981 | Q | 1992 | CL | 2004 |
| G | 1982 | R | 1993 | MA | 2005 |
| H | 1983 | S | 1994 | OP | 2006 |
| I | 1984 | T / W | 1995 | EO | 2007 |
| J | 1985 | V | 1996 | PJ | 2008 |
| K | 1986 | Z | 1997 | LT | 2009 |
| U | 1998 | RS | 2010 |
Rolex never officially published these codes, US-assembled bracelets often carry no code, and community charts disagree on a few letters. Treat the clasp code as a corroborating clue and cross-check it against the case serial rather than relying on it alone.
Guarantee paper country codes
Rolex guarantee (warranty) papers carry a code for the country or region where an authorized dealer sold the watch. Rolex never published an official list, so every version is collector-compiled and sources disagree on the less common codes. US-market cards generally carried no country code, and Rolex dropped country codes from its cards around 2020. Treat these as a supporting clue, not proof.
| 061 | Rolex headquarters, Switzerland (a direct-from-Rolex purchase) |
|---|---|
| 100 | Germany |
| 110 | France (also 112, 113; 119 is the COMEX code) |
| 120 | Austria |
| 130 | Belgium and Luxembourg |
| 133 | Netherlands (block 133 to 138) |
| 150 | Spain |
| 160 | Great Britain (UK and Ireland) |
| 170 | Italy (also 181, 204) |
| 700 | Canada |
| 710 | United States |
| 810 | Australia and New Zealand |
| 888 | Hong Kong (also 874) |
| 900 | Japan |
Red letters (US papers)
On some US-market Rolex paper guarantees from roughly the 1970s into the early 2000s, a short code was stamped in red ink; collectors call these "red letter" papers. It records when Rolex USA shipped the watch to the dealer, not the retail sale date, and decodes to a shipping date through a cipher Rolex never published, so any specific reading is approximate. On certain vintage references, original red-letter papers add to a watch's provenance and value.
Other ways to date a Rolex
Compare the complete reference, movement, dial, crystal, bracelet and any service records with documentation for that specific model. Components may have been replaced during service, so one feature cannot reliably date the whole watch.
A warranty or sale date is not necessarily the manufacturing date. Stickers, rehaut engraving and dial text are supporting clues, not a universal calendar. In particular, SWISS MADE alone does not identify a luminous compound or prove that a dial has luminous material.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I find my Rolex serial number?
On many older Oyster watches, the serial is between the lugs at 6 o'clock. On many later examples it is at 6 o'clock on the rehaut. Transition examples can carry both; ask a qualified watchmaker if bracelet removal is needed.
Can I tell the year from the serial number?
Some older serial formats support an approximate production-period estimate. They do not establish an exact production date or the date a watch was sold. Random serials cannot reliably be dated from this chart.
My serial is a scramble of letters and numbers. What year is it?
This input cannot be reliably dated by this chart. Confirm that you entered a serial rather than a reference number. Randomized Rolex serials cannot identify a production year; ask us to check the watch and its documentation.
Where is the model or reference number?
On many Oyster models it is between the lugs at 12 o'clock. Check the watch's papers first, and get professional help if the bracelet must be removed.
Are these dates official?
No. These serial-year figures are collector/dealer estimates, not official Rolex records. Ranges can overlap and sources disagree. Cross-check important details against the watch, its documented reference and available papers.
Does the serial prove my Rolex is genuine?
No. A serial number can be copied, so it is not proof of authenticity on its own. A real check looks at the movement, the crispness and alignment of the engravings, and the paperwork. Our GIA-trained team does this in person, free and with no obligation.
Want to know what your Rolex is worth?
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